The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-02-16
BITTER AND SWEET.
BY MARY N. PRESCOTT.

BY MARY N. PRESCOTT.
1t was in the autumn that the news of
the loss of the ship Albatross reached the
small town of Haven. She had foun-
dered on her way to Calcutta, and Aleck
Fanshawe was on board as supercargo.
ut isn't as though Squire Fanshawe
hadn't other sons,' commiserated a
neighbor, when the blinds were pulled
down and Grape tied on the knocker at
the big stone mansion, and prayers were
offered in church for the bereaved family
and friends. Everybody in town, so to
speak, tErned out to church on that Sep
tember morning to see how the family
took it, and to be able to criticise the
funeral sermon. The Fanshawes had
been gay, worldly crowd, and this was
their first sorrow, and those who had
seen them in prosperity and Joy wanted
to behold the elect of the reverse; but
they proved to be family who did not
wear the heart on the sleeve; they con-
Quoted themselves bravely behind their
weeds, and restrained their tears till they
might flow in private. The only excite
ment of the occasion, however, was
worthy of the expectations of their
IL,
black as grief and Grape could make
them. There were John and his mother,
Sue and Hildegarde; but who was this
other on the old Squire's arm, bowed
with emotion, more sable than them all,
In widows veil and cap2 Who2 Why,
it was only Louise Turner, whom they
had always known. Why was she in
widows weeds and on the Squire's arm9
What had happened to herr There was
lively gossip, you may be sure, that day,
on the way home from church.
Z" remember he was kind of attentive
to Louise Turner one spell" reflected
Mrs. Ames.
"That's to," echoed Mrs. Blake.
"Don't you remember he took her to a
concert over to Danversg lie has al
ways known her; and like as not there
was something between them
=" So he has always known every other
girl in town" " said Mrs. Blunt, the skep-
tic; and he has been just as attentive
to half dozen Others, as far as 1 can
see"
eyes," acknowledged Mrs. Ames, re-
luctantly, ''he was attentive to all of
them on and off but then man may be
attentive to dozen, you know, while he
only cares for one. It's odd; a woman
couldn't do it; it would bore her horri-
bly-that is, unless she's tlirt.n
"Well, of course it s true" sighed
Mrs. Blunt, cor else she wouldn't be in
widows weeds and in the Squirrels pew
but she's the last girl thought Aleck
would care for. can't reconcile myself
to it.
The interest and surprise of this event
seemed to subtract something from the
solemnity of the occasion. 1t was not so
wonderful that Aleck Fanshawe should
die as that he should have been engaged
to Louise Turner and no one ever have
guessed it. 1t perplexed and disturbed
Mrs. Blunt, she could hardly tell why.
Perhaps she was disappointed that
Aleek should have cared for such shall
low girl as Louise; and then a surprise
has an irritating effect upon some
natures. She upbraided herself
for having so little sympathy for
Louise in such a tremendous sorrow.
Louise was pretty everybody said Louise
was pretty, and young men are easily
pleased. Doubtless it had occurred at
the last moment before his departure, and
Louise had waited for his return to de-
clare it. Aleck had been the best match
in town, and, love aside, this was a great
blow for Louise, with whom everybody
was bound to sympathize. But Mrs.
Blunt was dissatisfied with the quality as
well as quantity of her own sympathy.
''It seems, " said p neighbor who hap
pened in to talk it oyer-'lt seems that
Louise heard the rumor, and rushed up
to Squire Fanshawe to know the truth,
and when it was verified she went
straight into Mysteries, and confessed
that they had been privately engaged
OF course the Squire adopted her into the
family at once. They bought her mourn
ing, the very best, and dare say they'll
give her Alexis property-you know he
had a fortune from his own mother, the
Squire's first wife"
''Have you heard that John refused to
believe it at frstln asked Mrs. Blunt.
Eyes; he was little stiff at first; he
never liked Louise, you know"
"It seems to me l shouldn't want to
take it on trust as they've done.
shorld want to see letters in his own
hanG, or something contirmatory, not Just
her word for it..
1T seems to me it would be tremen-
dous cruelty to turn deaf ear to her at
such time, and refuse to believe her
story"
"YeS," agreed Mrs. Blunt, "'Better